Tape handling 101

Don't see if this has been discussed - if so - my apologies.

Was reminded of poor handling of a master after hearing an obvious - and astonishing - example on the recent Shelby Lynne CD, Just a Little Lovin'.

IMO, any tape worth playing should get the same treatment as a master, IF you care about it preserving it.

It is tails out.

But in this case, it's a master tape that was probably wound after playing. You can hear the print-through in a quiet passage before the loud one.

Can almost always be avoided by running the tape off at play speed. Should never fast forward a reel of tape (that you care about) off of the machine. Makes the wrap too tight so that a highly magnetized section can slightly magnetize the quiet one directly under it.

If you only have one machine or one transport, carefully take both reels off and play it off later if you wish to hear another reel now, or have another transport to play it off. Doesn't need a head - just a smooth transport.

And of course, don't sit the now un-played reels on or near a loudspeaker .

This also may have happened in editing where the editor spooled the tape too fast.

IMO, inexcusable at this level. Why record in analog and then let that happen?

Great info Myles.

It may be helpful for some folks who are getting into tape, but perhaps haven't seen or heard the basics.

Still wonder why they would allow that to happen after going to the trouble to record in analog in the first place.